Rayagada tourist reception centre in ruins

Rayagada: A tourist reception centre built by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) near the PHD office here in 2016 at a cost of Rs 50 lakh is now dysfunctional.

The centre was inaugurated June 5, 2017, but it never became operational. At night it turns into a haunt for stray animals, anti-socials and criminals. Due to lack of maintenance it is in a state of ruin.

The state had spent a huge amount to set up the tourist centre. This was revealed recently in an audit. The tourist reception centre now exists only on paper.

The people of undivided Koraput district are now demanding that the tourist centre should be made operational.

ITDA project administrator of Rayagada, Tuku Barik, said, “I am not aware of this as the tourist centre was set up much before I joined. I will take steps to make it functional after a spot verification.”

Many tourists from Odisha, as well as from other states and abroad, visit undivided Koraput district. The tourism department has been trying to improve tourism infrastructure in the region.

As there is no airport in undivided Koraput district, tourists generally come to Rayagada and Koraput districts by train. The ITDA set up the tourist centre in 2016 mainly to help them.